Mohali17 minutes ago
Team India lost to Australia by 4 wickets in the first match of the three-match T20I series. India’s defeat hurts but there were 5 such moments in this match which we will always remember as a fan. Let’s go through these memorable moments again.
1. KL Rahul shuts down critics
Before this match, the Indian opener was on the target of critics for his slow batting. There were allegations against him that his strike rate was getting too low in terms of the team’s requirement. The allegation was correct in its place. Rahul had scored runs in T20 Internationals this year at a strike rate of just 122. He was colorless in the Asia Cup as well. But, against Australia, he came to bat in a changed style. He scored 55 runs in 35 balls. The strike rate stood at 157.14.
2. Rohit-Virat Flop Show
Virat Kohli faced 7 balls and only 2 runs came off his bat.
The fans were expecting a big innings from the Indian team’s two most legendary batsmen, captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Virat had scored a brilliant century against Afghanistan in his last match of the Asia Cup. But both Rohit and Virat failed in this match. Rohit got out after scoring 11 runs off 9 balls. At the same time, Virat could only score 2 runs in 7 balls. Virat did not look at all comfortable at the crease. He was unable to time the ball and got out after playing a bad shot in frustration.
3. Maxwell’s brilliant fielding
Jonty Rhodes was reminded of Glenn Maxwell saving a boundary at long on.
On the third ball of the 19th over of the Indian innings, Harshal Patel played an aerial shot off Nathan Ellis. Looks like the ball has crossed the boundary for 6 runs. But, it didn’t happen. Incredible fielding by Glenn Maxwell at long on the boundary. He jumped and brought the ball back on the field from outside the boundary. During this he himself went outside the boundary line but he blocked a six. Only 1 run was scored on this ball.
4. Hardik scored 21 runs in the last over, also scored a hat-trick six
If the Indian team could reach beyond 200 runs, then all-rounder Hardik Pandya had a big role in it. He scored 71 runs in 30 balls playing a career best innings. He batted brilliantly in the last over. Harshal Patel took a single off the first ball of this over from Cameron Green. Hardik could not score any run on the second ball. He took two runs off the third ball. After this, he hit three sixes in three consecutive balls. He sent the fourth ball outside the midwicket boundary, the fifth ball outside the long off boundary and the sixth ball outside the deep third man boundary.
5. Rohit Sharma caught Dinesh Karthik’s neck
Rohit Sharma holding Dinesh Karthik’s neck during the match.
In the 12th over of Australia’s innings, Team India captain Rohit Sharma was seen holding the neck of wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik. Its video is going viral on social media. Rohit was showing displeasure with Karthik for not giving his consent on DRS.
In this over, Steve Smith scored 10 runs in the first two balls by hitting a six and a four. After this, Smith tried to cut on the third ball of Umesh Yadav, but the ball went into the wicketkeeper’s glove very close to the bat. The players made a strong appeal, but Karthik felt that Smith was not out. Rohit Sharma took the DRS and he was out. After this, Rohit grabbed Karthik’s neck and started shaking loudly and was also shouting at him.
Maxwell was also out in this over and his catch was also caught by Karthik.